Read the full stored bill text
EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*sb0160*
SENATE BILL 160
E4 6lr0003
(PRE–FILED) CF HB 284
By: Chair, Judicial Proceedings Committee (By Request – Departmental – State
Police)
Requested: September 24, 2025
Introduced and read first time: January 14, 2026
Assigned to: Judicial Proceedings
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
Senate action: Adopted with floor amendments
Read second time: February 26, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Public Safety – Licensed Firearms Dealers – Notification Regarding Potential 2
Compromise of Security Features Compromising Events 3
FOR the purpose of requiring a certain licensed firearms dealer to notify the Secretary of 4
State Police within a certain period of time that certain crimes have occurred or 5
certain security features may have been compromised; altering a certain penalty; 6
and generally relating to licensed firearms dealers. 7
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 8
Article – Public Safety 9
Section 5–145.1 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 12
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 13
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 14
Article – Public Safety 15
5–145.1. 16
(a) A licensed dealer may not conduct business and store firearms at a location 17
unless: 18
2 SENATE BILL 160
(1) the premises on which the licensed dealer operates is equipped with 1
security features, including: 2
(i) equipment capable of filming and recording video footage inside 3
and outside buildings where firearms are stored; 4
(ii) at least one of the following features designed to prevent 5
unauthorized entry installed on all exterior doors and windows of all buildings where 6
firearms are stored: 7
1. bars; 8
2. security screens; 9
3. commercial grade metal doors; 10
4. grates; or 11
5. other physical barriers approved by the Secretary; 12
(iii) a burglary alarm system that is continually monitored; and 13
(iv) if practicable, physical barriers desig ned to prevent the use of 14
motor vehicles to breach all buildings where firearms are stored; or 15
(2) outside business hours, the licensed dealer locks all firearms stored on 16
the premises in: 17
(i) a vault; 18
(ii) a safe; or 19
(iii) a room or building that meets the requirements under item (1) of 20
this subsection. 21
(B) (1) A LICENSED DEALER WHO KNOWS OR REASONABLY SHOULD 22
KNOW THAT A BURGLARY, ATTEMPTED BURGLARY, ROBBERY, THEFT, OR ANY OTHER 23
EVENT MAY HAVE COMPR OMISED THE SECURITY FEATURES REQUI RED UNDER 24
SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION SHAL L NOTIFY THE SECRETARY WITHIN 24 25
HOURS AFTER THE DEALER FIRST DISCOVERS THAT THE SECURITY FEATURES MAY 26
HAVE BEEN COMPROMISED. 27
(B) (1) A LICENSED DEALER SHALL NOTIFY THE SECRETARY WITHIN 24 28
HOURS AFTER THE DEALER FIRST HAS KNOWLEDGE THAT: 29
SENATE BILL 160 3
(I) THERE HAS BEEN A BUR GLARY, ATTEMPTED BURGLARY , 1
ROBBERY, OR THEFT INVOLVING A FIREARM OR AMMUNITION AT THE PREMISES ON 2
WHICH THE LICENSED DEALER OPERATES OR WHERE FIREARMS ARE STORED; OR 3
(II) A SECURITY FEATURE REQUIRED UNDER SUBSE CTION 4
(A)(1) OF THIS SECTION HAS BEEN COMPROMISED, INCLUDING: 5
1. THE FAILURE OF EQUIP MENT TO FILM AND REC ORD 6
VIDEO FOOTAGE UNDER SUBSECTION (A)(1)(I) OF THIS SECTION; 7
2. THE FAILURE OF A FEA TURE TO PREVENT 8
UNAUTHORIZED ENTRY UNDER SUBSECTION (A)(1)(II) OF THIS SECTION; 9
3. THE FAILURE OF A BUR GLARY ALARM SYSTEM T O 10
ALLOW FOR MONITORING UNDER SUBSECTION (A)(1)(III) OF THIS SECTION; OR 11
4. THE FAILURE OF A PHYSICAL BARRIER TO PREVENT 12
A BREACH, IF UTILIZED UNDER SUBSECTION (A)(1)(IV) OF THIS SECTION. 13
(2) THE NOTICE REQUIRED U NDER PARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS 14
SUBSECTION IS IN ADD ITION TO ANY REPORT MADE TO THE LOCAL LA W 15
ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OR THE BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, FIREARMS AND 16
EXPLOSIVES. 17
[(b)] (C) (1) This subsection does not apply if the equipment or alarm system 18
became temporarily inoperable at no fault of the licensed dealer. 19
(2) A person who violates this section is subject to a civil penalty IMPOSED 20
BY THE SECRETARY: 21
(I) FOR A FIRST VIOLATION, NOT EXCEEDING $250; AND 22
(II) FOR A SECOND OR SUBS EQUENT VIOLATION, not exceeding 23
$1,000 imposed by the Secretary. 24
(3) In addition to the penalty imposed under paragraph (2) of this 25
subsection, a person who knowingly and willfully violates this section is subject to: 26
(i) for a second offense, suspension of the person’s dealer’s license; 27
and 28
(ii) for a third or subsequent offense, revocation of the person’s 29
dealer’s license. 30
4 SENATE BILL 160
[(c)] (D) The Secretary shall adopt rules and regulations to determine whether 1
a licensed dealer has met the requirements of subsection (a) of this section. 2
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 3
October 1, 2026. 4
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.